So what are the benefits of the alternative bios on the sega saturn?

Hey guys,

Just came to my attention that there's a bios much like the dreamcast for the sega saturn that allow you to enjoy a region free sega saturn.

What about backups? Is that possible via bios hacking? Has it been done before?

What else people managed to accomplish?

 

Nope. The BIOS is region free and that is the extent of it. I have a bucket of modchips for backups.

 

yeah, I'm enjoying my modchip here. I got to find someone that can do SMD to purchase a region free bios.
Maybe Bad_Ad can do it, not sure.

 

The region free bios difference is less switches. It still cannot toggle between 50/60hz (modchips and AR don't either), that takes a separate mod if needed.

 

Can you link me to this 50hz to 60hz mod?
This only affect PAL games, right?

 

It affects all games. The setting is in hardware same as Megadrive.

 

Hum.. what about 50hz/60hz issue via RGB? Is it also necessary?

If you have a NTSC system with region free bios, play a PAL game that should output 50hz, would it give you a fuzzy image via RGB?
That's the need for this mod?

 

RGB is the video output format. Not related to speed.

An unmodified NTSC system can only play PAL games at 60hz.
An unmodified PAL system can only play NTSC games at 50hz.

 

Bad_Ad84 and myself install region free BIOS chips.

 

Yep Saturn remains slated as likely next in line for us.

 

An unmodified NTSC system can only play PAL games at 60hz, causing the image to get unstable?
I mean, an NTSC TV can only show NTSC, 60hz.

So a PAL game will get problems displaying the picture?

 

That depends on which game you're playing. Many PAL games weren't reprogrammed, for them NTSC would be the original image and speed.

Other PAL games did get changed to better handle 50hz. Those will have issues at 60hz.

 

So why people keep doing the switchless mod?

I keep seeing 50hz/60hz mods for all the systems. Like the SNES.
What's that for?
Is it only for PAL users?

 

aesthetics maybe...? ;p

 

Switchless is for users who don't like having a separate switch attached to the system.

50hz/60hz is a greater benefit and more popular for PAL users. But it's still needed by NTSC users who play games that run better with 50hz, or attempt to block starting at 60hz.